Science and Religion in Funky Winkerbean

On August 30, 2004 papers nationwide (including the Omaha World-Herald)
started a series in Tom Batiuk's "Funky Winkerbean" strip that appears to
have been inspired by recent events in Mr. Batiuk's home state of Ohio. (For
more information about recent actions taken by Ohio's state Board of Education,
see Ohio Citizens for Science.)

Note: Johnny Hart (referred to in the August 31 strip) is the
creator of another popular comic strip, "B.C.", in which Mr. Hart has occasionally
expressed his Christian faith. One of the student characters in the
Aug. 31 Funky Winkerbean strip wonders if, by entering the fray, he and his
friend might be labeled "the anti-Johnny Hart." I think that's a play
on "the anti-Christ." Occasionally defenders of the teaching of evolution
are so labeled (for example, see the web site of the Northwest Creation Network)

Science and Religion in Party Platforms

Evolution has been a political and religious issue for 150 years, and
it continues to be an issue in the U.S. and elsewhere in 2004. For
example, though not in the 2004 national GOP platform approved at the Republican
Party convention in New York City, evolution is an issue in several state
GOP party platforms.

For example, in the section entitled "Educating our Children," the
2000 Texas Republican Party Platform included the following plank:

Scientific Theories: The Party believes that scientific topics,
such as the question of universe and life origins and environmental theories,
should not be constrained to one opinion or viewpoint. We support the teaching
equally of scientific strengths and weaknesses of all scientific theories--as
Texas now requires (but has yet to enforce) in public school science course
standards. We urge revising all environmental education standards to require
this also. We support individual teachers' right to teach creation
science in Texas public schools.

In 2004 the plank was updated a bit in the Texas GOP platform:

Scientific Theories: The Party supports the objective teaching
and equal treatment of scientific strengths and weaknesses of all scientific
theories, including Intelligent Design, as Texas law now requires but has
yet to enforce. The Party believes theories of life origins and environmental
theories should be taught only as theories not fact; that social studies
and other curriculum should not be based on any one theory.

Iowa's 2004 GOP platform plank # 3.4 reads:

We believe that the local choice to teach creation science, or
intelligent design science, should be allowed in government schools rather
than exclusively teaching evolution as the only viable theory. We also believe
that tax funded libraries should include creation science materials on the
shelves.

Oklahoma's 2004 GOP platform Oklahoma plank # 23 reads:

We believe that in public schools where evolution is taught, creationism
should be taught as well. We support disclaimers on any state-funded science
textbook that treats evolution as fact rather than theory.

Nebraska's 2004 GOP platform makes no mention of evolution or its "alternatives."

Of course, not only in Nebraska but also in Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and
elsewhere, many Republicans support the teaching of evolution in public
school science classes, and do not want the valid religious doctrine
of creation confused with scientific explanations of origins.